Residents of Embu town are calling on the national government to fast-track the use of idle public land to expand affordable housing, citing a growing shortage driven by rapid population increase.
The appeal comes in the wake of the recently completed Majimbo Affordable Housing Project, which has intensified demand for decent housing in the town.
“We have vast idle government land in Embu that can be used to build more houses and address the growing shortage,” resident Simon Njiru said.
The Majimbo project that comprises 100 modern housing units, is now complete and ready for occupation, but demand has already outstripped supply, with applications exceeding available units.
The project has 20 studio units, 40 one-bedroom units and another 40 units that are two-bedroomed.
The government is set to construct another 300 units on the 24-acre land allocated for the project at Majimbo near Embu prison.
Embu town has been experiencing a steady population growth that is fuelled largely by rural–urban migration.
An influx of students enrolling at University of Embu and Kenyatta University’s Embu campus as well as host of other tertiary institutions have also strained the housing sector.
According to residents, more people are moving into Embu town in search of employment, education, and better services, contributing to rising rental costs and housing demand.
Embu town served as the headquarters of the defunct Eastern Province, making it an administrative and business hub.
Njiru urged the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development to partner with the county government to allocate more land for similar projects saying this would help stabilise housing supply and improve living standards.
He emphasised the need to encourage urban settlement while preserving rural land for agriculture to boost food security, drawing parallels with global agricultural transformation models.
“If more housing projects are established, it will slow down the crave for land that has caused agricultural land to be turned to real estate”.
The residents said the affordable housing programme has already had a positive economic impact.
“Projects like Majimbo have created jobs for our youth and supported local artisans and suppliers,” Esbon Nyaga said.
Nyaga, a jua kali artisan, noted that they benefited directly from the project after signing a Sh10.9 million contract in 2024 to supply windows and doors.
Then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua oversaw the signing of the contract saying it would empower local youths while keeping them away from vices such as alcoholism and drug abuse.
The project, Nyaga said, gave a boost to the businesses, and called on the government to ensure future projects incorporate local workers in a similar arrangement.
He also pointed out that access to decent and affordable housing remains a critical need as Embu town continues to grow.
